INTRoDuCING - Wilmington University

Spring/summer 2OO8
wilmington
WU university
Celebrating
Success
Following the achievements
of our distinguished alumni
The Green Team
See how Wilmington University
is going green
introducing
the class of
2OO8
The first class to graduate with
wilmington university diplomas
message from the president
Dear Readers,
Once again, we have come to the end of a very successful academic year. I am very
pleased of all the accomplishments the University has made in the past year, and I
would particularly like to acknowledge the accomplishments of the class of 2008.
Each and every one of our graduates deserves recognition and I wish them success
in their future career paths. As many of you may already know, our winter
commencement ceremony was a very momentous occasion because it marked the
first time our students graduated since the recent change in designation. I was delighted to see
how many students and families were proud of the change in designation and eager to receive their
Wilmington University diplomas.
Wilmington University has been very active in the community this year. Students, faculty, staff
and friends of the University have participated in fundraising and awareness events for causes such as
breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, arthritis and more. The Wilmington University Green
Team has brought students, staff and faculty together to ensure that protecting the environment is
one of the University’s top priorities.
Being active in the community has always been important to the mission of Wilmington University,
and I would like to thank all the people who spent time and energy in community service efforts
this year.
Congratulations to our divisions. The division of Education recently received accreditation from the
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; the Business division added a new certificate
in entrepreneurship and small business; and the Distance Learning program continues to do very well
with more and more students signing up to take online classes.
This year also saw the retirement of some irreplaceable faculty and staff. We wish them the best
of luck, and thank them for their dedication to Wilmington University.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jack P. Varsalona
President
Spring/summer 2008
1
l e t t e r f r o m t h e A l u m n i R e l at i o n s C o o r d i n at o r
It has been my pleasure to work with the Alumni Association for the past
13 years. In that time, I have made some long lasting-relationships with our
alumni and have had the opportunity to meet with many of you. With our
increased focus on our alumni through the creation of a new Alumni Relations
Department, there will be even more opportunities for you to stay in touch with
your alma mater.
In the fall, we will open our 40th anniversary year with an Alumni Celebration Picnic. Mark your
calendars now for Sept. 6, 2008. The picnic celebration will be held on the Green at our New Castle
campus. You will also see the formation of alumni chapters within your major. This will give you
the opportunity to attend alumni activities to rekindle friendships with classmates and faculty from
our sites in Delaware and New Jersey.
The University’s increased fundraising events
will benefit the scholarship fund to offer new
and current students the opportunity to succeed
as you have in your careers.
As always, your continued support is appreciated and recognized by students, family, friends,
faculty, staff and administration at Wilmington
University.
I look forward to seeing you at our alumni events
in the future.
Sincerely,
Patricia L. Jennings
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Donations to the Alumni Fund Drive are always welcome.
To make a donation please use the attached postage paid, addressed envelope. You can also pledge
online and locate our matching gift companies by visiting www.wilmu.edu/alumni.
m e s s a g e f r o m t h e e d i to r
wU
wilmington university
President..................................Dr. Jack P. Varsalona
Assistant Vice President.......Dr. Thomas B. Cupples
Editor ........................................Christopher Pitcher
Managing Editor............................. Jacque Varsalona
Associate Editor.........................................Suki Deen
Alumni Relations Coordinator....Patricia L. Jennings
Annual Fund Coordinator.................. Gloria Johnson
University Photographer....................Susan L. Gregg
Questions or Comments?
Please send all correspondence to:
Department of University Relations
Wilmington University
31 Read’s Way
New Castle, DE 19720
Email: [email protected]
For address changes,
please call 1-877-967-5464
Wilmington University Magazine
is designed and published for the
alumni, students and associates of
Wilmington University by:
Media Two, Inc.
1014 W. 36th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
Tel: 410-828-0120
Fax: 410-825-1002
www.mediatwo.com
President...........................................Jonathan Witty
Chairman...................................Robert F. Martinelli
Managing Editor......................................Pete Kerzel
Project Manager.........................................Julie Lang
Advertising Account Executive........... Jessica Stryker
Creative Director...................................Randy Clark
Art Director........................................ Lanie Bologna
Greetings &
Gratitude
W
ell, here we are
again at the
end of another
wonderful year
at Wilmington University. Let me be one of the
first to congratulate our
graduates and to welcome
them to our ever-growing
list of alumni. We here at University Relations have always felt a special connection to our alumni since
so many of our staff can be counted
among them.
Speaking of University Relations,
I wanted to take the opportunity to
thank everyone who helped support
us in our efforts to build recognition of our new programs in the state
of New Jersey. It was a tremendous
group effort and much of the Wilmington University community, from
administration to academics, came
together to participate in our 2008
New Jersey Open House Series.
It was our intention to present an
accurate image of the University we
have become, and yet illustrate how
our small-college culture is still alive
and well. I cannot tell you how surprised and pleased the prospective
New Jersey students were when I
introduced them to deans
of academic divisions and
high-level administrators.
The Wilmington University family really turned out
in full force, ready to answer any and all questions.
I would especially like to
mention our students who
participated, greeting our guests from
the Garden State with more enthusiasm and knowledge of our mission
than you could possibly imagine.
It was clear that our guests had not
expected to enjoy the time and attention of so many people at every level of
the Wilmington University community. I am proud to say there are now 209
new people in New Jersey who have
experienced the personal touch that
identifies Wilmington University.
So, once again, thank you to everyone
who helped make this exciting time
in our shared history that much more
special. You did an outstanding job.
Best Wishes,
Christopher Griffin Pitcher
Director of University Relations
WILMington university magazine is the official
magazine of Wilmington University and is produced by the
University Relations Department of Wilmington University. It is
published and distributed twice a year. With a circulation of more
than 36,000, WILMington university magazine is sent
to active students, alumni and other constituents of the University
community. Personal views expressed in articles by faculty and staff do
not necessarily reflect the official policies of Wilmington University.
Spring/summer 2008
3
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springsummer
Volume 2, Number 2
Summer 2008
features
departments
14 Commencement: Congratulations Class of 2008
6 WU Notes
Past events, including Go Red
Fashion Show, Mike Castle and
National Library Week.
The 2008 commencement ceremonies were held in January and May.
Read about some of the proud graduates, take a look at our photo gallery
and join us in congratulating the class of 2008!
35 An Interview with Author Lauren Groff
Wilmington University interviews the critically acclaimed author Lauren
Groff as she talks about her debut novel, “The Monsters of Templeton.”
36 Wilmington University is Going Green
Learn about how Wilmington University is striving to be environmentally
friendly through the continued efforts of the Green Team.
44 Alumni: From Wildcat to Taming Criminals
Wilmington University alumnus Jason Efelis recounts his journey from
University mascot to patrolman in the Pennsville Police Department.
Cover: Wilmington University celebrates the class of 2008: Kimberly Conwell (A.S, Media Art, Design & Technology),
Jacob Meehan (B.S, Marketing), Cheyann Gilroy (M.S, Administration of Justice) and Dr. Sean Moriarty (Doctor of
Education, Organizational Leadership). Photograph by Susan L. Gregg
Above: Graduates at the Georgetown commencement ceremony celebrated after receiving their diplomas.
Photograph by Susan L. Gregg
10 Athletics
New Wildcat logos, women’s
basketball championships and more.
24 Departments
Retiring faculty members, new
accreditations and commemorative
events.
38 Alumni Notes
Meet the new Alumni Relations
Department, read about former
classmates.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 5
Wilmington
The Delaware House of Representatives, led by House Majority Leader
University
Rep. Richard Cathcart, commemorated Wilmington University with a
Honored By
House of Representatives
recognized the strides the school has made, particularly in becoming a
Paul Patton
presentation made to President Dr. Jack P. Varsalona. The presentation
University in September 2007.
Wunotes
Go Red for Women
Fashion Show and Luncheon
Susan L. Gregg
disease was the No. 1
In honor of the women
killer in women.”
suffering from heart disHeart disease has
ease, the American Heart
touched Rocha’s life
Association held the Go
since the age of 13,
Red for Women Luncheon
when she began noand Fashion Show at the
ticing heart irregularSheraton Dover Hotel as
ities. “I can remema social and educational
ber running track in
event designed to encourschool and my heart
age women to focus on
feeling like it was goheart health. Wilmington
ing to come out of my
University was proud to
chest with sharp pains
be a silver sponsor of the
and palpitations,” reevent and to help design
membered Rocha.
the presentation.
Cheryl
Rocha,
assistant
to
the
provost
and
vice
president
of
academic
affairs,
After many years
Among the women
participated in the fashion show.
of doctors telling her
affected by this deadly
nothing was wrong, she was diagnosed with mitral valve
disease is Cheryl Rocha, assistant to the provost and vice
prolapse with supraventricular tachycardia, a condition that
president of academic affairs at Wilmington University.
affects the mitral valve of the heart.
Rocha participated in the fashion show as a Go Red model.
All Go Red models are people who have had their lives
“I decided to get involved so I could share my successful
affected by heart disease, or people who are active volunteers
heart surgery story with other women,” said Rocha. “I wanted
for the American Heart Association. Eight million American
to let them know that sometimes women are brushed aside
women are currently living with heart disease, the leading
by doctors because their heart condition cannot be detected. I
cause of death of women in this country.
knew my body better than anyone else and I knew that heart
6 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Introducing the Student Affairs Department
The Student Affairs Department is gearing up to offer
a more expansive array of events and activities!
Meet our two new employees:
Christyn Rudolf, assistant director of student affairs –
Rudolph joins the department after working as a site associate
at the Wilson Graduate Center. She is very enthusiastic about
creating and implementing new opportunities for student
involvement and leadership.
Erin Harvey
LeAnne Barnhart, student affairs associate – Barnhart is
a new face at Wilmington
University.
SheWalk
is eager
to begin
Walkers begin
the AIDS
Delaware
working with student organizations and promoting ways to
improve the student experience on campus.
LeAnne Barnhart (left) and Christyn Rudolf (right) are new faces in
the Student Affairs Department.
Burlington County College (BCC) student Ibrahim Klilov Konate received
the Presidents Scholarship this year,
meaning he will receive full tuition and
fees to finish his bachelor’s degree at
Wilmington University.
The presidents of BCC and Wilmington University present the scholarship
annually to a graduating BCC student
who excels in leadership and service.
Konate will major in Business Adminis-
Traci Grabler
tration at Wilmington University.
From Left: Dr. Thomas Cupples,
assistant vice president of Wilmington
University, Ibrahim Konate and BCC
President Robert C. Messina.
U.S. REP Mike Castle Helps Pass Bill
To Benefit Veteran Students
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle visited
Wilmington University in February
to discuss important legislation that
will help veterans pursue higher
education. The legislation, known
as the Securing Success for Veterans on
Campus Act, will assist veterans by
providing colleges and universities
with the resources necessary to address the academic, financial and
social needs of veterans.
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle shakes hands
Rep. Castle explained how some
with Dr. Thomas Cupples, assistant vice
veteran students have had diffipresident of Wilmington University.
culties following the various GI
Bill financial aid and eligibility requirements. Because of these challenges,
only 8 percent of veterans actually use their GI benefit, while 30 percent of
veterans do not use the benefit at all. Castle hopes this bill will change that.
He also praised Wilmington University for its bountiful opportunities for
military personnel, saying, “The University represents an ideal postsecondary
experience for soldiers and veterans.”
Spring/summer 2008
Jacque Varsalona
Wilmington University
and BCC Present
Presidents Scholarship
Please stop in to visit us in the Pratt Student Center, Room
101 to introduce yourself and receive a free “WU” giveaway.
We would love to see your faces and hear your ideas!
7
WU Notes
Erin Harvey
STUDENT-ATHLETES TEAM UP TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER
Members of the Wilmington University Athletic Department participated
in the American Cancer Society’s annual
“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Walk” held at the Wilmington Riverfront last October.
The Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) was instrumental in
gathering all of the student-athletes to
participate for such a worthy cause. A
total of 40 members of the Athletic Department participated in the walk. Staff
and student-athletes from the softball and
volleyball teams raised more than $1,000
for the cause.
The walk had about 5,800 participants and raised more than $425,000 to
help fight breast cancer. This is the fifth
year the event has been held and both
the number of walkers and the amount
raised were new records for the event.
Sports Information Director and softball coach Erin Harvey, volleyball coach
Kim Huggins-Habbert and SAAC President Cheyann Gilroy organized Wilmington University’s participation in the
event, which was deemed a huge success.
Dover SITE
Hosts Arthritis
Kickoff Party
Wilmington University’s Dover site
hosted a kickoff party for the “Speed
the Way to a Cure” Arthritis Walk on
April 14. The Arthritis Foundation invited the community to sign up to
participate in or donate to the event,
which took place at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, April 26.
The kickoff party was fun for all,
with music, food and prizes. Wilmington University is proud to announce
that its Walk Team is currently the
highest-ranked team on the Arthritis
Foundation Web site, raising more
University Staff Participate in MS Walk
Wilmington University participated in the 2008 Multiple Sclerosis walk on April 19 at the
Wilmington Riverfront. The team walked to support Nicole Purcell-Rowe, executive adminDr. Jack Nold
istrative assistant to Chris Pitcher in the Wilson Graduate Center, who was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis in 2007.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects approximately 400,000 Americans and 2.5 million people worldwide. It is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system and causes
numbness in the limbs, severe paralysis and sometimes loss of vision. MS is unpredictable and can
appear without warning, and although there is no cure at this time, research is being done to try and
fight the onset of MS.
The Wilmington University team is excited to have raised more than $1,000 for this great cause.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will use funds collected from the MS Walk to support
Arthritis Foundation Executive
Director Carolyn Barczak
poses next to one of Monster
Racing’s stock cars at the
Arthritis Walk kickoff party
hosted by Wilmington University
(Dover site).
research and provide programs to address the needs of people living with MS.
than $1,100 for this great cause.
Pattie Jennings
Wilmington
University’s
Team Nicole,
featuring Nicole
Purcell-Rowe (third
from right), helped
raise more than
$1,000 for the
National Multiple
Sclerosis Society.
Arthritis affects more than 46 million people nationwide (nearly one in
five adults) and is one of the leading
causes of work disability. Arthritis affects people in all age groups, including nearly 300,000 children. People
who are affected with the disease
are limited in everyday activities like
walking, dressing and bathing.
8 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
WU Notes
Wilmington University
Holds National Library Week Event
From left:
James McCloskey,
director of the
Wilmington
University Library;
Vincenza CarrieriRusso, Miss
Delaware USA;
and Billie
Travalini, author
and guest speaker
at the event.
Jacque Varsalona
The Wilmington University Library held a special
event in honor of National Library Week called “Inspired by Books: How Books and Visual Art Make
a Difference in the Lives of Troubled Youth.” James
McCloskey, director of the Wilmington University Library, welcomed guest speaker, author Billie
Travalini, who discussed her experiences working
with troubled youth, and how literature and visual
art can help with the rehabilitation process.
“What amazed us,” recalled Travalini, “was how
it gave us a window into their dreams, desires and
hopes. It allowed them to have a voice and that is
such a beautiful thing.”
Travalini is the author of “Teaching Troubled Youth: A
Pedagogical Approach.” Aside from being an author and poet,
Travalini is an adjunct professor of English at Wilmington
University and has worked with youth involved in the rehabilitative and child mental health divisions of the Delaware Children’s Department.
Several works of art created by these troubled youth were
on display. After Travalini’s presentation, several panelists responded to her presentation speaking on the experiences of
troubled youth, the need for art and literature programs, and
the importance of libraries and reading.
Along with Travalini, Miss Delaware USA, Vincenza Carrieri-Russo, attended the event. She has been an advocate of
literacy and libraries through the “Success Won’t Wait” foundation, which she co-founded in 2002.
“I have a strong passion for promoting literacy,” said Carrieri-Russo. “It is so important to encourage reading and not just
to read, but to read well.”
Second Annual New Castle Writer’s Conference
Writing enthusiasts from far and wide
participated in the second annual New
Castle Writer’s Conference sponsored by
the Delaware Literary Connection and
Wilmington University, which was held
at the University’s Dover site in March.
The conference began with an announcement by event organizer Billie
Travalini about four literary contest winners. This was the first time that a writing contest was affiliated with the New
Castle Writer’s Conference and it was a
smashing success. All winners received
cash prizes and an award certificate.
The following awards were
presented to exemplary writers:
• Wendy Ingersoll received the
Susan Clapp Jamison Prize for
poetry.
• JoAnn Balingit received the
Dr. Norman H. Runge Award
for prose.
• Violet Kaplan received the
Irwin M. Schmuckler Award
for high school poetry.
• Brittany Bowman was runnerup in non-fiction prose.
The daylong conference featured
writing workshops on poetry, dialogue,
nonfiction and editing. Over lunch hour,
attendees listened to spoken poetry and
learned how to apply for a Delaware
Division of the Arts grant.
For more advanced writers, the
conference offered master’s workshops
in poetry and prose. Meanwhile, more
workshops continued into the afternoon,
with attendees learning about scriptwriting, photojournalism and more.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 9
athletics
WILMINGTON CLAIMS ECAC WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
take a 41-32 lead into halftime.
Wilmington opened up a 26-point
lead when Jamie Gallagher converted
a 3-point play with a fast-break layup
and a free throw that made the score
69-43 in favor of the Wildcats with just
under nine minutes to play. From there,
the eventual champions coasted home to
the easy, 21-point win. The tournament’s most outstanding
player, sophomore forward Amelia Simmons, finished with 20 points, eight
rebounds and two steals. Senior center
Nordia Henry finished with 16 points
and a game-high nine boards for the
victors, who also received solid performances from Parker (14 points, a gamehigh six assists and four rebounds) and
Jillian Bennett (eight rebounds, four
points and four assists).
The ECAC selected Henry and Simmons for the all-tournament team.
It was the Wildcats’ first ECAC
postseason championship, and Wilmington’s 22 wins are a new school record.
The Wildcats became the first team of
any sport in school history to claim an
ECAC title.
Jackie Cleary
The No. 1-seeded Wildcats of Wilmington University claimed their first
Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference
(ECAC) Division II Women’s Basketball
Championship presented by FieldTurf
Tarkett, as they defeated third-seeded
Caldwell College, 83-62.
The Wildcats (22-9) were leading by
nine after an Amelia Simmons tip-in
made it 23-14. The advantage extended
to 13 points when a Kim Parker layup
made the score 35-22. The Cougars battled back to cut the lead to five, but the
Wildcats scored the final four points to
Above: Amelia Simmons, the
tournament’s most outstanding
player, receiving her award.
Jackie Cleary
Left: The women’s basketball
team after winning the ECAC
Tournament.
1 0 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Burcham Named to USTFCCCA
All-Academic Team
Erin Harvey
Sophomore cross country standout Danielle Burcham
has been named to the United States Track and Field and
Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) allacademic team for the 2007 season.
Burcham is only the second
runner in Wilmington history
to receive this prestigious honor. She is a two-time All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) award winner
and was also awarded Academic
All-Conference honors this past
season.
Burcham, a Studio Production
and Broadcast Journalism major
with a 3.85 grade point average,
recently completed her second
season of competition for the
Wildcats. Burcham finished in
the top 10 in every race except
for one. At the CACC Championships at Belmont Plateau in
Philadelphia, Burcham finished
fifth, helping the Wildcats to a
third-place finish. She concluded her season with a 45th-place finish at the
NCAA East Regionals at Lock Haven University, helping the Wildcats place
16th out of 24 teams. The women’s team earned 2007 Division II All-Academic status
according to the USTFCCCA. A total of 99 women’s teams in the nation
earned the honor among the 272 Division II schools that offer cross country.
To qualify for this honor, a team must have a cumulative team grade
point average through the semester of competition of 3.0 on a 4.0
scale. The Lady Wildcats held an astounding 3.55 grade point
average, proving they succeed both in the classroom and also out
on the course.
WILMINGTON
UNVEILS NEW
ATHLETIC LOGOS
Wilmington
University
un-
veiled its new
athletics logos,
a representation
of the name change
from College to University.
The primary Wilmington
logo features a redesigned
Wildcat with a paw coming across the words
“Wilmington Wildcats.” The secondary logos
depict the letters “WU,” both alone and with
the Wildcat mascot. New to the design is a
specific font that will be used solely for athletics at the University.
Frank Aiello, director of athletics, stated,
“I am delighted with the new look for Wilmington University. It is a refreshing change and
will help us create a new identity while keeping the same values and traditions the sports
programs have had for decades.”
The official school colors will remain
Wilmington green and white; however, the
color of the Wildcat will be Wilmington gold.
Those colors match the Wilmington University institutional logo of the clock tower,
introduced last fall.
Erin Hart, graphic designer in the University
Relations
department,
designed
the
new logos with
input from various
members of the
Athletic Department
and
University
Relations staff.
Spring/summer 2008
11
At H l e t i c s
Erin Harvey
Erin Harvey
Student athletic advisory committee
helps out make-a-wish foundation
Top: Dr. Varsalona & Coach Welch.
Above: Gift baskets that were auctioned off.
The Wilmington University Athletic
Department held a silent auction benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation
during the men’s and women’s basketball games against Goldey-Beacom
College in February.
The Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) was instrumental in
gathering all of the basket items to be
auctioned off for this worthy cause. The
auction had more than 30 participants
and raised more than $700 to help
the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The
SAAC raised the money in conjunction
with the NCAA and Central Atlantic
Collegiate Conference (CACC) fundraising efforts.
Sports Information Director Erin
Harvey, SAAC President Cheyann
Gilroy, and SAAC and Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Clint Robertson organized Wilmington Univer-
sity’s participation in the event, which
was a huge success.
Dr. Jack P. Varsalona, president of
Wilmington University, was a guest
coach on the Wildcats bench during
the men’s game. Unfortunately, his
presence was not enough to help propel the Wildcats to victory, as they fell,
81-64, to the Lightning. The Wilmington women defeated Goldey-Beacom,
78-75, to secure the No. 2 seed in the
CACC playoffs.
Wilmington Athletic Director Frank
Aiello stated, “The SAAC did a wonderful job with the silent auction. It
was an honor to have Dr. Varsalona help
us out, as he continues to be a great
supporter of the athletics program here
at Wilmington.”
Over the course of the school year, the
SAAC has raised more than $1,500 for
the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
BEGUM MALALI NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN IN WOMEN’S SOCCER
Wilmington University is pleased to an-
goals, points, goals per game, points per game
nounce that Begum Malali was named to
and shots. Her spectacular of-
and points were also CACC
the women’s soccer Daktronics All-American
fensive efforts were good for
records.
First Team for her performance this past
fifth in Division II in goals per
Malali becomes the first Lady
season.
game and sixth in the nation in
Wildcat soccer player in school
Malali, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Con-
points per game.
history to have earned NCAA
ference (CACC) player of the year, also gar-
Her season totals of 27 goals
first-team All-American honors.
nered first team all-conference honors for the
and 60 points were the highest
This past season, Malali helped
fourth time in her career. She was also named
in CACC history, and she also
lead the Wildcats to a 7-4 re-
to the All-New England Region first team.
owns Wilmington’s school re-
cord in the CACC and an over-
19 game-winners. Her season totals in goals
cords for goals, points, goals
all record of 14-6-2. The ’Cats
per game and points per game.
finished the regular season
had career highs in goals and points this past
The most decorated women’s
season. A dynamic scorer, Malali led the Wild-
soccer player in Wilmington
cats in almost every offensive category and
University history, Malali went 49-27-3 during
the Wildcats to the sixth-ranked offense in
won the CACC scoring title, finishing first in
her career, and she netted 80 goals, including
Division II.
1 2 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Erin Harvey
As a senior forward, Malali earned All-American honors for the first time in her career. She
in fourth place, and Malali’s
high-powered scoring helped
At H l e t i c s
Wilmington Men win CACC Championship over Holy Family
Kirk Reed– CACC Office
Insert Photo: CACC Tournament MVP Dan Mangat
with CACC Commissioner Dan Mara.
Kirk Reed– CACC Office
The Wildcats of Wilmington University capped off an exciting 2007
season with a thrilling shootout victory over the Tigers of Holy Family University, giving Wilmington
its first Central Atlantic Collegiate
Conference tournament title.
Wilmington entered the finals as
the No. 2 seed and shot first in
the shootout round. Junior midfielder Augustin
Aguilera converted his attempt and Holy Family’s Ed Szambelak followed with the same result.
Next, freshman defender Billy Curran netted his
opportunity and the Tigers were stopped by a beautiful
save from Wildcat keeper Dan Mangat.
Freshman Anthony Randazzo buried his opportunity and Holy Family’s Steve Kientzy followed up
with a goal of his own. In the fourth round, senior
Oren Segev converted his try, and the final round saw
sophomore forward Sargbah Tarpeh find the back of
the net to give the ’Cats the thrilling 5-3
victory.
Holy Family dominated play for
much of the first half, but the Wildcats were able to get on the board when
freshman midfielder Joe Stant connected on a long ball from sophomore
defender Selekie Kamara during the
37th minute.
The Tigers tied the game when Sean Hordijenko
found Steve Kientzy on a breakaway. The two squads
would not score again, thanks to stellar play by both
goalkeepers.
Mangat, the tournament’s most valuable player, recorded nine saves for the Wildcats. Mangat, along with
Curran, freshman midfielder Joe Stant, Tarpeh, and
sophomore midfielder Fatoma Turay, were named to
the all-tournament team.
Wilmington ended the season with a record of 12-5-2,
while Holy Family closed out the year at 14-7-2.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 1 3
commencement
Susan L. Gregg
Congratulations, Class of 2008!
H
undreds of proud friends and family members gathered to honor Wilmington University graduates at
the winter and spring commencement ceremonies
held in Wilmington and in Georgetown. The class of 2008
should be proud to be the first class to receive diplomas that
read “Wilmington University” since Wilmington College became a University in September 2007.
The University held five commencement ceremonies this
year so that each graduate could be recognized individually.
The winter graduation ceremony held in January saw approximately 1,228 students receive their diplomas. The next
ceremony, held in Georgetown in the spring, had to be pushed
back by two days due to inclement weather. However, the ceremony, held on May 14, 2008 went very well and saw 215
graduates receive their undergraduate and graduate degrees.
On May 18, 2008, the spring commencement ceremonies in
1 4 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
New Castle were held at the Chase Center on the Wilmington
Riverfront, where 943 undergraduate and graduate students
received their diplomas. Altogether, Wilmington University
welcomed 2,400 students to the class of 2008.
Many eager graduates stated how excited they were to be graduating from a University, and how their experiences at Wilmington University would be something they could never forget.
President Dr. Jack P. Varsalona congratulated the class of 2008,
saying, “May you seize this day, and those that are to follow. The
University is proud of you, and remember you will always be a
cherished member of the Wilmington University family.”
As a tribute to our graduates, we have devoted the following
pages to award winners, graduates, commencement speakers
and more. We hope you enjoy the photo gallery, and reading
about some of our successful graduates. Once again, congratulations class of 2008!
California
Dreaming
“I’m very excited and grateful to be graduating today.
I originally intended on
just getting my associate’s
degree, but four years later,
I am honored to be getting
my bachelor’s degree. I
hope to be able to use it to
earn a job in the field of design.”
—Caleb Guertin, Bachelor of Science in
Media Design concentrating in Multimedia
and Print (New Castle)
Jessica Sterling
Jamie Varsalona was a bundle of emotions
as she watched all her belongings shoved into
the back of a rental truck bound for Sherman
Oaks, Calif.
Just three days after graduating from Wilmington University with her bachelor's degree
in Media Design with a concentration in Photography, Varsalona was preparing to start the next chapter of her life: moving
into a studio apartment outside of Los Angeles and pursuing her dream of
becoming a professional photographer.
“When I first got out here, the only thing on my mind was getting a job,”
says Varsalona, a native of Newark, Del. “Before I moved, I contacted Brad
Buckman, a professional photographer in the area. I asked if he had any job
openings at his studio or whether he would give me the opportunity to just
meet him.”
A few weeks later, she was contacted by his office and eventually landed the
position of studio manager at his Hollywood studio.
“I answer the phones, handle the money and assist with all the photo shoots,”
says Varsalona, who is enjoying her new line of work.
Being thrust into the real world and far away from friends and family, Varsalona has had to readjust to her new life.
“I still can't figure out these highways,” she laughs, “but I love it here. I have
been making friends and doing some freelance photography.”
The experiences and people Varsalona met while at Wilmington University
have been extremely helpful on her journey out west.
“As a student, I really enjoyed meeting people, getting to know them and
learning from them,” recalls Varsalona. “Peers, teachers, guest speakers and
more – they have all prepared me for the real world. They also taught me the
right things to ask and look for and gave me a great business sense.”
In the future, Varsalona hopes to do more freelance photography and one day
own her own studio.
“Within a year, I have set a goal to start doing more lifestyle and commercial
photography,” says Varsalona. “I am more than I ever thought I would be, and
impressed with how far I have come since graduation – and hopefully how far
I will go.”
ON THe SCENE
“I’m so happy to be graduating
from Wilmington University. The
knowledge and experience I
have gained have been so useful to me in my everyday job!”
—Penelope Heras, Bachelor
of Science in Business Management
(Georgetown)
“I am one of the first people
in my family to get a master’s
degree, so I am setting a
precedent for my family and
for my two children. Today, I
am walking for my children,
showing them that if you keep going and persevere, you can accomplish a lot of things.”
—Ivory L. Dewitt Jr., Master of Business
Administration (New Castle)
“This is a huge accomplishment in my life. I’m very glad
for the opportunities and the
mentorship here at Wilmington
University and I’m very excited
to take the next step and
begin my master’s degree here in the fall.”
—Rebecca Byrne, Bachelor of Science in
Nursing (New Castle)
“Earning my degree from
Wilmington University has
really given me the skills
for the counseling program
I work in, the skills to
be able to talk to the
students and guide them
through their educational and occupational
pathways.”
—Celeste Cassidy, Master of Education in
School Counseling (New Castle)
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 1 5
Commencement
Spotlight on Doctorate
Dr. Mary Theresa Caputo
Doctor of Education
Educational Leadership
Dr. Sean E. Moriarty
Doctor of Education
Organizational Leadership
Mary Theresa Caputo is used to juggling school, work and kids. The Philadelphia native completed her bachelor’s
degree in Theology from St. Joseph’s University while working
for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and a master of education
in Middle School Mathematics from Wilmington University
while working at the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. After
graduation, she become a teacher on special assignment in the
Red Clay School District, where she traveled to various schools
to model lesson plans, give feedback to teachers and help assist
schools that were struggling in their mathematics programs.
In January 2008, Caputo topped off her education with a
Doctor of Educational Leadership to become Dr. Mary Theresa Caputo. “At first, I was nervous to enter a doctoral program,” recalls Dr. Caputo. “I really wasn’t sure if I was capable
of doing it. But once I got started I realized that I couldn’t
keep looking at it as how much I had to do, but instead I had to
look at it as how much I had already done.” Dr. Caputo added
that you can accomplish all your goals with a little dedication
and hard work.
Dr. Caputo was delighted with the program schedule
at Wilmington University, which allowed her to take class
just one night a week and earn her degree in about three years,
leaving her time to take care of her family. “My educational
journey has been a long one, as I earned four degrees – all
in evening programs – while fulfilling my roles as wife and
mother,” she says.
In August 2007, Dr. Caputo defended her dissertation, “A
Comparison of the Effects of the Accelerated Math Program
and the Delaware Procedural Fluency Workbooks on Academic Growth in Grade Six at X Middle School.” She graduated
from Wilmington University in January 2008 and earned an
academic award. She hopes to begin working in administration
in a Delaware school district, preferably the Red Clay School
District where she currently works.
Originally from Framingham, Mass.,
Sean Moriarty has always had a special interest in law enforcement, leadership and
education. Having graduated cum laude from St. Anselm College with a degree in Criminal Justice and earned a master's
degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Administration from Northeastern University, Moriarty worked as a police
officer and dispatcher in Wayland, Mass.
Moriarty moved to Delaware in 1995 and joined the Delaware
State Police, where he climbed the ranks to lieutenant. Moriarty
has worked with polygraphs, firearms transactions and as detective in the major crimes unit, among other duties.
In 2002, Moriarty became an adjunct professor of Criminal
Justice at Wilmington University. It was here that Moriarty began thinking about earning his doctoral degree.
“The truth is, I just love to learn,” says Moriarty. “Earning my
doctorate has been a lifelong dream and when I decided to go
back, I really felt it was the right time in my life.”
He particularly liked the one-evening-a-week class design and
through his cohort has developed some lifelong friendships.
Putting his doctoral degree to good use has not been a problem
for Moriarty. While working on his degree, Moriarty researched
and developed the International Association of Chiefs of Police
“Leadership in Police Organizations” course for the Delaware
State Police. This was the first in-house leadership program for
any state police agency in the United States.
Dr. Moriarty's research led to his dissertation, “Establishing a
Leadership Development Program in the Delaware State Police:
Recommendations for Law Enforcement Leadership Development.”
Moriarty graduated in May 2008 from Wilmington to become
Dr. Sean Moriarty. He received the Audrey K. Doberstein President’s Award For Leadership at the commencement ceremony.
Thankful for all the great experiences he had at Wilmington University, Dr. Moriarty says, “This has been the perfect degree for
me. I really believe this doctoral program is a cut above the rest.”
1 6 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Commencement
Spotlight on Master’s
Cheyann Gilroy
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Administration
of Justice
Born and raised in the small southern
town of Bryans Road, Md., Cheyann Gilroy started at Wilmington University on a volleyball scholarship in the fall of 2004.
“Academically, I fell in love with this school from the start,”
recalls Gilroy. “The teachers are great, most of them are in the
field and are doing exactly what I want to do. Some of them are
still my mentors, and I talk to them regularly.”
At Wilmington, Gilroy worked as a library assistant and became a member of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal
Justice Honor Society, where she remained a member throughout her bachelor’s and master’s degree studies.
After graduating cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice, Gilroy continued with a Master of Science in Administration of Justice. While pursuing her graduate degree, she
became the president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, an organization that emphasizes academic opportunities to student-athletes.
In her spare time, Gilroy did community service work with
the Boys & Girls Club of Delaware, where she served as a volleyball coach to children 9 to 15. Back at Wilmington University, she became the captain of the volleyball team and developed some lifelong friendships with her teammates.
“My best friends are here in Delaware now. I’m definitely
going to miss them,” says Gilroy.
Spotlight on Bachelor’s
Spotlight on Associate’s
Jacob Meehan
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Kimberly Conwell
Media Art, Design & Technology
Jacob Meehan had always been interested
in business, leadership and politics when he
started at Wilmington University. Though
originally a Criminal Justice major, he soon
found his true calling when he switched to Marketing.
“I’ve grown so much through taking business and marketing
classes," says Meehan, who was a full-time undergraduate student.
While pursuing his degree, Meehan got involved with and became president of the Student Government Association, a group
of students dedicated to making sure students have a voice in
university activities. Meehan also participated in the Business
Professionals of America, where over the years he held various
positions, including president pro-tem.
Overall, Meehan has had a great experience at Wilmington
University. “These have been some of the best years of my life,”
says Meehan. “I will genuinely miss this place, and will never forget the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had and the things
I’ve learned.”
Artist, disc jockey and fashion designer
Kimberly Conwell is happy to be graduating with her associate’s degree in Media Art,
Design and Technology from Wilmington
University. With bountiful creative talents, Conwell had been
searching for her niche when she decided to go back to school and
pursue her degree.
“I’ve been sewing, sketching and drawing all my life, since I was
a kid,” says Conwell, “and then I got into music, and music has
always been a big part of my life. So right now, I am trying to find
out where I’m supposed to be.”
A part-time employee and the mother of an 8-year-old daughter,
Conwell was excited to find that the faculty and staff at Wilmington University were very accommodating.
“Comfort is a big thing with me, and so it was great to find a
place where I felt comfortable,” said Conwell. One of the biggest
things Conwell learned while a student at Wilmington University
was, “If you ask, you will receive. People are here to guide you.”
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 1 7
Commencement
Academic
Awards
Winter Commencement
jan. 27, 2OO8 – Chase Center on the Riverfront
Commencement Award Recipients
Student Speaker Graduate..................................................................................................................William A. McWatters
Student Speaker Undergraduate............................................................................................................. Monica L. Hofmann
Trustees’ Award for Service Graduate........................................................................................................ Karen R. DeLissio
Trustees’ Award for Service Undergraduate.......................................................................................................... Chase Lake
Audrey K. Doberstein President’s Award for Leadership Graduate........................................................ Charlene L. Madanat
Academic Awards
Graduate Program
Academic Awards
Undergraduate Program
Master of Science in Business
Administration.............................................Nancy M. Cox
Division of Behavioral Science.............. Amanda B. Richter
Master of Science (Business)..................Daniel K. Meadows
Division of Education.......................... Jessica G. Stuhlman
Master of Science in Information
Systems Technologies............................. Karen R. DeLissio
Division of General Studies..................Alfred L. Saindon IV
Division of Business...................................... Eric L. Henry
Graduate Behavioral Science...................... Wayne D. Kline
Division of Information Technology
and Advanced Communications................ Sergiy Kuzhanov
Master of Science in Nursing......................Angela Kaptsan
Division of Nursing..............................Rosella J. Ganoudis
Master of Education...............................Molly M. Chorman
Master of Arts.......................................Wendy L. Peterman
Doctor of Education.......................... Mary Theresa Caputo
1 8 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Commencement
Spring Commencement
MAY 18, 2OO8 – Chase Center on the Riverfront
Commencement Award Recipients
Student Speaker Graduate........................................................................................................................ Michelle F. Lauer
Student Speaker Undergraduate..................................................................................................................Penni K. Foster
Trustees' Award for Service Graduate...............................................................................................................Funda Cinar
Trustees' Award for Service Undergraduate................................................................................................. Keitha F. Davis
Audrey K. Doberstein President’s Award For Leadership Graduate................................................................ Jacalyn Beam
Audrey K. Doberstein President’s Award For Leadership Undergraduate............................................. Alvaro W. Camacho
Academic Awards
Graduate Program
Academic Awards
Undergraduate Program
Master of Science in Business
Administration.................................. Meredith L. Sullivan
Division of Behavioral Science...................Karen E. Larson
Master of Science (Business).................... Carol A. Lemieux
Division of Education............................... Melissa A. Pratt
Master of Science in Information
Systems Technologies................................Jason C. Romeo
Division of General Studies............... Michaelle McGinnes
Graduate Behavioral Science.....................Brianne L. Snow
Master of Science in Nursing..................Heather C. Dixon
Master of Education........................................Eric T. Jones
Division of Business.......................... Jerrold M. Taylor III
Division of Information Technology
and Advanced Communications...........Timothy W. Steiner
Division of Nursing..................................Susan L. Weaver
Master of Arts.................................. Megan L. Hegenbarth
Doctor of Education.............................. Debra A. Webster
Spring Commencement
May 14, 2OO8 – Georgetown, Del.
Commencement Award Recipients
Student Speaker.......................................................................................................................................Kathryn A. Byrne
Trustees’ Award for Service.............................................................................................................................Dane L. Sears
Audrey K. Doberstein President’s Award For Leadership...............................................................................Sean Moriarty
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 1 9
Commencement
Dan Moran
Far right,
from left:
Latoya Blake,
B.S. Organizational
Management.
Susan L. Gregg
Right,
from left:
Michele Holman,
Emily Levitt-Gopie,
Cynthia Mallee,
Martha Lins,
Tina Keane,
Ed Hatton,
Angela Carroll.
January Commencement
Left: Wilmington University undergraduate
students prepare for Commencement.
Bottom left, from left: Stacey Eby, Victoria
Gokdemir, Sarah Park, Kimberly Foster,
Rosemary Altamuro.
2 0 W i l m i n g t o n
Susan L. Gregg
Susan L. Gregg
Dan Moran
Below, from left: Bill Dowling and Jason
Rash, Television and Video Production Design.
University magazine
Commencement
Susan L. Gregg
Far right,
from left:
Graduate Lista
Lincoln, her baby
Lincoln Colman,
and her husband ,
Peter Colman.
Christine Warren
Right,
Dr. Debra
Webster received the
Doctor of
Education
academic award.
May Commencement
Left: Dr. Dot Baker, Dr. Margaret
Jopp, Dr. Pam Curtiss, Dr. Mike
Czarkowski, Dean Johanna Adams,
and Dr. Thomas Cupples.
Bottom right: Mother and daughter
Leandra Lewis (left) and Vanessa
Preston (right) graduated together, both
receiving their master’s degree in
Elementary Education.
Tom Shewbrooks
ww See
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lm pi
u. ctu
ed re
u/ s o
ur f
/m gr
ul adu
tim a
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ia/ ! V
ga is
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s
Susan L. Gregg
Jacque Varsalona
Below left: President's Award winner
Alvaro W. Camacho, faculty member
Dr. Jack Nold and academic award
winner Timothy W. Steiner.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 2 1
Commencement
Commencement Speakers
At each Wilmington University Commencement ceremony, both
graduate and undergraduate, a speaker is selected to recount their experiences, what they
have learned, the memories they will take with them, and their hopes for the future.
Winter Commencement Ceremonies – jan. 27, 2OO8
Graduate Ceremony
Undergraduate Ceremony
William A. McWatters
Monica L. Hofmann
Completing his doctoral studies
with a Doctor of Education, William
A. McWatters excelled academically
at Wilmington University. McWatters earned his Master of Arts degree in
Physics and his Bachelor of Arts degree
in Physics Education with a minor in
Mathematics from the University of Delaware and has attended
numerous conferences and workshops on science standards, curriculum mapping and advanced placement physics.
Employed by the Octorara Area School District in Pennsylvania since 2002 as a physics teacher at Octorara High School,
he is also the chair of the science department, a position he has
held since 2004. His doctoral dissertation, “The Effect of TwoYear Transition Algebra Instruction on Student Performance in
the Eleventh Grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
(PSSA) Exam,” has helped to bring about significant changes to
the district’s mathematics curriculum.
Among his professional accomplishments are the revision and
alignment of the K-12 science curriculum and a complete revision of the school schedule structure, moving toward a modified block-scheduling model. McWatters also has collaborated
in the development of a competitive grant and is currently one
of the key integrators of the technology necessary for the grant’s
implementation. Throughout his career in education, McWatters has been the recipient of many awards and honors for teaching excellence.
He and his family are residents of Newark, Del.
While earning a Bachelor of Science
degree in Sports Management from
Wilmington University, Monica L.
Hofmann has been striving for success.
A dean’s list scholar, she is also a member of Delta Epsilon Rho, the Wilmington University Honor Society. Since
2004, she has been a member of the women’s basketball team,
receiving the conference All-Academic Athletic Award for each
of the three years she has played.
Hofmann also has served on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee for three years and was the president for the
2006-2007 school year. As a member of the advisory committee, she helped to organize and lead a variety of community
service activities, including canned food drives, visits to the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Make-A-Wish Foundation
fundraisers, and participation in the Breast Cancer Walk and
Philadelphia’s “Light the Night” walk.
From April-September 2007, Hofmann was an intern with
the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium. In November,
she secured a position as a sports and entertainment marketing
distributor with J.D. Advertising in Charlotte, N.C. She is currently a resident of Matthews, N.C.
2 2 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Commencement
Spring Commencement Ceremonies – May 18, 2OO8
Graduate Ceremony
Undergraduate Ceremony
Michelle F. Lauer
Penni K. Foster
Michelle Lauer completed her
Master of Science in Nursing degree
program in the Nursing Leadership:
Educator concentration from Wilmington University and has been a diligent student.
Having received her Bachelor of
Science in Nursing degree from California State University
and her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Delaware
Technical and Community College in Stanton, Del., Lauer is
the patient care coordinator with the psychiatric crisis team
at Christiana Care. A member of the team since 2003 and the
coordinator since 2006, she oversees its daily operations in two
hospital emergency rooms.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Lauer holds a number of
professional licenses, certifications, and affiliations. She is the
chair of the Nurses Healing Our Planet Environmental Task
Force of the Delaware Nurses Association and, in 2008, was
inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of
Nursing.
Lauer and her family are residents of Wilmington, Del.
Penni Foster, a highly motivated
student, graduated with a Bachelor
of Science degree in General Studies
from Wilmington University. She received an Associate in Arts degree in
Education from Salem Community
College and is currently enrolled in
the Master of Education in Elementary Studies program at
Wilmington University.
A dean’s list scholar and a member of Delta Epsilon Rho, the
Wilmington University Honor Society, Foster is extremely active in a variety of church and school-related activities.
Among her many volunteer commitments, Foster is a vacation Bible school instructor and acolyte coordinator at Clonmell United Methodist Church, secretary for the Pennsville
Middle School parent and faculty committee, homeroom parent at Penn Beach Elementary School and team parent for the
Pennsville Force soccer team.
Foster and her family are residents of Pennsville, N.J.
Spring Commencement Ceremonies – May 14, 2OO8
Georgetown Ceremony
Kathryn A. Byrne
Active in the community and committed to the field of health care, Kathryn Byrne completed her Bachelor of
Science in Nursing with a high grade
point average.
Byrne received her Associate in Applied Science Nursing Technology
degree from Delaware Technical and Community College in
Georgetown, Del. Employed by Beebe Medical Center in a wide
range of nursing and health care areas for the past 17 years, she
is currently the director of inpatient services, a position she has
held since 2002. In this role, Byrne is responsible for providing
and overseeing high-quality, service-oriented nursing care and
delivery throughout the medical center.
Her many volunteer activities include the Rehoboth Beach
Jazz Festival, American Cancer Society and various community
health fairs.
Byrne and her family are residents of Lewes, Del.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 2 3
b e h av i o r a l Sc i e n c e
A Fond
Farewell
After 13 years at Wilmington University,
Dr. John Corrozi retires from the Psychology program,
Susan L. Gregg
but he will leave a legacy of work behind.
2 4 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
T
he Behavioral Sci-
ence Division bids a
fond farewell to Dr. John
Corrozi, who retired recently from his full-time
position as coordinator of the Psychology program.
Born and reared in Wilmington, Del.,
Dr. Corrozi graduated from Salesianum
School and received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Delaware.
After a short stint as an epidemiologist
with the U.S. Public Health Service, he
enrolled in a master’s program in Communications Research at Boston University, where he received his M.S. in 1966.
He received his Ph.D. in Behavioral Science from the University of Delaware in
1970 and worked developing and directing the Delaware Teacher Corps Program.
This federally funded master’s program
trained liberal arts graduates to teach in
urban classrooms in Wilmington.
The following year, Dr. Corrozi was
appointed executive director of the
Educational Research and Development
Council of Delaware. He led the effort
to bring business and industry together
with education to develop approaches
to work toward goals common to both
sectors.
Dr. Corrozi continued to have an impact on education in Delaware when,
in 1975, he joined the new Delaware
Postsecondary Education Commission
(later called the Delaware Commission
on Higher Education), to serve as its
first executive director. During his tenure with the commission, Dr. Corrozi
created and managed several state grant
and scholarship programs that have, over
the years, provided millions of dollars to
Delaware’s college-going population.
In 1994, Dr. Corrozi resigned his
state position and spent six years doing
consulting while teaching as an adjunct
professor at three colleges. He taught his
first course as an adjunct at Wilmington
University in 1995.
In 2000, Dr. Corrozi extended his time
at Wilmington University by accepting
the position of half-time coordinator for
Behavioral Science. The following year
the position was expanded to full-time.
During the next seven years, both the
Behavioral Science program and the Behavioral Science Division grew steadily.
In 2002, Dr. Corrozi led the division’s
development of the Psychology major
and served as coordinator for both Behavioral Science and Psychology until early
2007, at which time he devoted his time
exclusively to the Psychology program.
He and his wife of 42 years, Ann Marie
Boeck Corrozi, live in Wilmington and
Ocean View, Del. They have five adult
children – two sons, three daughters –
and 11 grandchildren. When asked about
retirement plans, Dr. Corrozi says that
while he’s sure that he’s finished with fulltime jobs, he’s not sure whether he’s finished working. After a couple of months
of travel and relaxation, he plans to start
thinking about the next stage of his life.
Women in Criminal Justice Leadership Seminar
The fourth annual Women in Criminal Justice Leadership Semi-
many accomplished women into key roles in state government.
nar featured dynamic and insightful presentations by an array of
Later, a panel discussion began featuring Director Mariann Ken-
successful leaders. The event, held on Friday, April 4 at the New
nville-Moore, Director Debra Reed and Children’s Advocacy Center
Castle campus, was sponsored by the Wilmington University Crimi-
Coordinator Terri Kaiser, who represent women working in victim
nal Justice Program. This year’s seminar featured women leaders
services. This was a new topic for this year’s event and was well
representing the Judiciary,
received by the audience.
Victim Services, and Law En-
Finally, two women work-
forcement professions.
ing in the Delaware court
The event began with a dis-
system took the stage. Ilana
tinguished law enforcement
Eisenstein,
assistant
U.S.
panel of Wilmington Police
attorney, and Maria Knoll,
Capt. Nancy Dietz, Mary-
Delaware deputy attorney
general, spoke about their
judiciary experiences and
and U.S. Postal Inspector in
how to pioneer in a male-
Charge Teresa Thome. The
dominated workplace. Both
panel set the tone for the day
with a powerful discussion
about how to navigate a path
to success.
Dr. Jack P. Varsalona, presi-
From left: Laura O’Sullivan, lieutenant for the New Castle County
Police Department; Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner; Yvette Thomas,
supervisor in U.S Postal Inspection; Melissa Zebley, lieutenant in the
Delaware State Police; and Wilmington University President
Dr. Jack P. Varsalona.
Lori Sitler
land Transportation Authority Police Capt. Lucy Lyles,
women encouraged the audience to prepare for success and be accepting of new
professional challenges.
To round out the event,
dent of Wilmington University, greeted the 130 guests and intro-
recruitment officers from five different criminal justice agencies
duced this year’s distinguished keynote speaker: the Hon. Ruth Ann
in the region provided information on state, local and federal law
Minner, governor of Delaware.
enforcement employment opportunities.
Gov. Minner’s address centered on the determination she needed
The seminar committee of U.S. Postal Inspector Yvette Thomas,
to achieve success. She illustrated this resolve through accounts of
(MS, ’04) Lt. Laura O’Sullivan (MS, ’03) and Lt. Melissa Zebley (MS,
her earlier years in the political arena, a career she was inspired
’03) received positive feedback from the attendees, who enjoyed the
to seek after being refused a car loan due to her gender. Since that
unique opportunity to hear from women leaders in a variety of crimi-
time, she has continued to break barriers for all women and promote
nal justice professions.
Spring/summer 2008
25
d i v i s i o n o f bu s i n e s s
New HONORS
Program
The first group of students is admitted to the Division of Business Honors program, which allows students to complete their
undergraduate and graduate business degree in just five years.
T
he Division of Busi-
ness Honors program allows Wilmington University undergraduates
majoring in Business to
earn their Bachelor of Science degree and
their Master of Business Administration or Master in Management degree in
just five years. The program is designed
for students who have demonstrated
academic ability and the desire to begin
their professional career with all of the
higher educational credentials required
for success in their chosen profession.
Being part of the Honors program will
help prepare students for management
and leadership positions in the business
world.
The first group of students to be admitted into the Division of Business
Jacque Varsalona
NEW CERTIFICATE IN ENTREPRENE
From left: Honors student Teniqua Grant, Dean of
Business Dr. Robert Edelson, Program Coordinator
Janice Wardle and Honors student Michael Van Gorder.
2 6 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
If you currently own or recently
started a small business (or you’re
thinking about it), you are in good
company. Entrepreneurship and
small business ownership have become increasingly popular career
choices in today’s marketplace.
With those thoughts in mind, the
Business Division is now offering a
certificate program in Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management.
The certificate requires successful completion of five three-credit
courses and a one-credit workshop
on customer service.
“This certificate was based on
research done in 2007, including
a focus group comprised of local
Ex-Trooper Named Fusion Coordinator
Gregory A. Warren, Ed.D., a retired 22-year veteran, captain and former director of training for the Delaware State
Police, has been appointed assistant professor and coordinator of the accelerated learning Organizational Management Fusion degree-completion program. He replaces Dr.
Don Durandetta, who recently became coordinator of the
Doctor of Business Administration program.
Sports Talk Brings Pros to Campus
The Sports Management Program launched its Sports Talk
series in February 2008 with Milt Thompson, the Philadelphia
Phillies hitting coach. Spring also brought National Football
League sports agent Jim Solano and Ernie Distefano, author
Susan L. Gregg
Honors program had their orientation
dinner earlier this year. To date, 15 students have been admitted into the program. These honor students have started
internships at organizations such as Astra Zeneca, Swarthmore Financial and
the Delaware Department of Transportation. Many of the students will be starting their graduate courses this summer
with expected graduation in May 2009.
Students interested in applying for the
Honors program are required to have and
maintain a certain grade point average
and complete an internship. They must
also take two graduate courses the senior
year of their undergraduate curriculum
before starting the graduate degree
track. Interested students should contact Stephanie Narvell at 302-356-6784
to see if they qualify.
of “The Happy Athlete” to the Wilmington University campus. The series will continue with speakers from Major League
Baseball and the Washington Capitals hockey team. For more
information, contact Janice Wardle at 302-356-6786.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMALL BUSINESS
Left to right: Milt Thompson
and Janice Wardel.
CHAMBER "U"
The Wilmington University Business
small business owners and the president of the Small Business Association,”
said Lynda Fuller, coordinator of the
undergraduate management program
and developer of the new certificate.
“We did a comprehensive review of how
other educational institutions are meeting the needs of a small business
community, and realized there is a strong
need for a program that will provide small
business owners with the resources to
effectively manage their businesses.”
Although there are numerous workshops within the community and onecredit courses at other institutions,
the Wilmington University certificate
would be offered in class, online or in a
hybrid format (half online, half in class).
It will also allow participants to earn 16
university credits, which can also be
applied toward any Business Bachelor of
Science degree.
The nine courses from which a student
can choose are small business finance,
small business law, entrepreneurship,
small business management, accounting, operations management, sales force
management, supervision and human
resource management.
“For now, all courses are being offered
at the New Castle campus in a sevenweek block format, but eventually we
will offer the certificate at all sites, and
plan to make it entirely available online
to attract students outside our region,”
Fuller said.
Division is among several area colleges
and universities sponsoring a series of
seminars on various business topics of
interest to start-ups and small businesses at the New Castle Chamber of Commerce.
The first of several Chamber “U” programs kicked off on April 22 when Lynda
Fuller, coordinator of the Management
program, presented “Best Practices
in
Customer Service.” The workshop
focused on both external and internal
customers and practices by which customer-driven organizations operate.
Seminars are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next one featuring a Wilmington University business
faculty member is on “Web-based Marketing,” slated for June 24 to be taught
by Bruce Puckett, marketing adjunct.
Spring/summer 2008
27
i n f o r m at i o n t e c h n o l o g y
In A new York
minute
A Wilmington University alumna
is hitting it big in the Big Apple.
Susan L. Gregg
Amanda Gibellino now works at MTV studios.
2 8 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
A
s taxis speed by, people rush around and digital advertisements sweep across
televisions, Amanda Gibellino is standing still
outside MTV Studios in New York’s
Times Square.
Upon graduating from Wilmington
University with a bachelor's degree in
TV/Video Production and an associate's
degree in Media and Design Technology, Gibellino interned at MTV studios
and it now coordinator of studio production for MTV.
“What they say about a New York
minute is the truth," says Gibellino.
“Living in NYC is fast-paced and I
love that. Working in production is
tough, but I fit in and I am proud to be
using my skills and putting my degree
to work!”
In classes at Wilmington, Gibellino
learned script writing, lighting, analog editing and digital editing.
“When I came to MTV for my internship, I couldn't believe it when I
saw that everyone used tape decks with
the huge Beta tapes for editing and
logging footage,” recalls Gibellino. “I
didn't think anyone used that equipment anymore, and it was certainly
helpful that I knew how to dub, edit
and use the equipment.”
Starting the internship in fall 2006,
Gibellino worked in various areas of
the production department and highly
impressed the staff. Brushing elbows
with celebrities is just one of the perks
of working for MTV.
“My office is located in the office corridor within the MTV studio, so celebrity talent walks past my door every
day,” says Gibellino, who has worked
in the production department for
“Total Request Live,” “The Big Ten,”
“Sucker Free” and the award-winning
series “Made.”
“I remember when I was part of ‘The
Killers Live Leak,’ where we invited
The Killers’ top 100 MySpace friends
to come listen to their new CD before
it was released,” recalls Gibellino. The
CD skipped on purpose and when the
music resumed, the real band was playing. “Some of the kids were crying and
it was such an amazing experience, one
I will never forget.”
Gibellino also coordinates MTV production interns. “It's great to work
with the interns because I would never
be where I am without my internship
here. If you are a standout intern and
show you have what it takes, it can
open so many doors for you,” she says.
She suggests current iTAC students
gain as much experience as possible
and intern as many places as they can.
“Eighty percent of MTV Network's
employees were once interns,” says Gibellino. “It is the best way for employers to see how you work, feel out your
work ethic and give you the opportunity to prove yourself.”
Capturing the Wonders of Nature
Spring Faculty Development Day was made a little more colorful this year when
Mickey Turnbo, adjunct professor at Wilmington University, led a workshop on “Self
Publishing” and displayed his self-published book on nature photography.
The book, “A Perspective on Nature,” was published using an online software engine called Blurb, a
program designed for people interested in publishing
photography books. Turnbo led the workshop, showing
faculty and staff how to decide on layout, import photographs, add text and send the book to an online vendor
for printing.
The process is surprisingly inexpensive and makes for
a great addition to your coffee table. Turnbo has now
completed his second book, “A Perspective on Nature
II,” which features photographs taken from locations in Florida, New Mexico, Maine, Georgia, Texas and the tri-state area and focuses on flora and fauna.
Turnbo began taking pictures as yearbook photographer in high school. A 24-year stretch
in the Air Force distracted him from his enjoyment of photography, but after retiring, he
was back behind the lens.
Nowadays Turnbo and son Robert make regular excursions around the United States,
looking for that new bird to photograph and to add to their own “life list.” Birders are
known to keep a life list of birds they would like
to see and photograph, and Turnbo and his son are
no exception. Turnbo has an upcoming trip back
to Baring, Maine, to attend the 2008 Down East
Birding Festival. While there last year, shooting
the Atlantic puffin, he and Robert
saw a wide variety of warblers and
plan to try for some better shots of
these small, evasive birds.
Turnbo has been at Wilmington
University 22 years, teaching computer operations courses and two
of the photography minor classes,
“Techniques in Basic Photography”
and a course he developed for the
Susan L. Gregg
minor, “Nature Photography.”
Anyone interested in putting together
a photo book for a class project, family
reunion, anniversary or student portfolio
can call Turnbo at (302) 356-6832.
Spring/summer 2008
29
n u r s i n g & A l l i e d H e a lt h
Nursing
Honors
Omicron Gamma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
celebrates anniversary. The society has grown
tremendously in the last 10 years.
I
n the early 1990s, a small
group of nursing students spoke
with then-Division Chair Dr. Betty
Caffo and division faculty members
about developing a student group.
Their initial thought of a social group
swiftly morphed into a much greater vision and, in 1992, the Nursing Honor
Society was born. From the very beginning, this group planned to become a
part of the International Honor Society
of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau. They followed the guidelines of the international society for induction of members and
held scholarly meetings.
News clips from the D
Stephanie Prebula, a 2005
graduate of Wilmington University, earned
a master’s degree in Nursing from
Villanova University in December 2007.
Michelle Lauer, New
Castle commencement
speaker, completed
her Master of Science
in Nursing degree program in the Nursing
Leadership: Educator
concentration. Lauer has been the Patient Care Coordinator of the Psychiatric
Crisis Team at Christiana Care since 2006
and oversees its daily operations in two
hospital emergency rooms.
Dot Baker wrote a student resource
guide for 14 chapters of Lubkin & Larsen’s
textbook “Chronic Illness: Impact & Interventions” (6th ed., Jones & Bartlett).
Susan L. Gregg
The guide includes exercises in critical
thinking, small group discussion, case
Congratulations Nursing Graduates.
3 0 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
In 1997, after a rigorous application
process, several representatives of the
Wilmington University Honor Society
traveled to Indianapolis, Ind., the home
of Sigma Theta Tau International, to
present their petition for chapter membership. That petition was accepted and
the chapter was officially named Omicron Gamma.
Omicron Gamma Chapter became
official on March 29, 1998 when the
chartering ceremony was held in the
auditorium on the New Castle campus.
One hundred and sixty-nine members
were inducted as charter members in
the company of family and friends.
A lovely afternoon tea followed the
event – the day was so warm that iced
tea became the fluid of choice for all!
Since that time, Omicron Gamma
has continued to grow and develop. We
now have 583 active members and continue to hold scholarly and social events
at venues across the state. We have a
new Web site ready to launch and several students have been supported by
chapter grants or scholarships. We participate in regional Sigma Theta Tau
events and always have a presence at the
international biennial conferences.
Our 2008 induction was combined
this year with a tenth anniversary
celebration. All charter members
were invited to join us for this event,
which featured an address by Dr. Betty
Caffo, now academic vice president
and provost of Wilmington University.
Dee Jones, a 2008 MSN in Nursing
Leadership graduate sang the “Nurses’ Anthem,” which she wrote and
recorded. Thirty-nine new members
were inducted during the ceremony,
after which the audience and participants enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, punch
and fellowship.
Division of Nursing & Allied Health
studies and related Internet links. She also
will sing with her choir group in Jerusalem
Lynda Kopishke, who graduated from
wrote an instructor’s manual for 17 chapters
this spring.
Wilmington University and is an adjunct
professor in our MSN Legal Nurse Con-
of Schmidt & Brown’s textbook “Evidence-
sultant track, had an article published
based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and
Evie Logue, adjunct professor, is back
Application of Research” (Jones & Bartlett).
in the classroom again after missing a few
in American Nurse Today in December
The manual focuses on professional nurses’
blocks due to illness. Welcome back, Evie!
2007. The article was entitled “Legal
Nurse Consultant: A Career at the Cross-
critical roles as innovators and leaders and
features a variety of classroom activities
Kathryn A. ByRne,
and homework assignments.
Georgetown commence-
roads of Health Care and the Law.”
ment speaker, earned
Veronica Wilbur, full-time faculty
Dee Jones, a Janu-
her Bachelor of Science
member, has a new title – she is now Dr.
ary 2008 MSN in Nursing
in Nursing degree. Em-
Veronica Wilbur. She successfully de-
Leadership graduate,
ployed by Beebe Medical
fended her dissertation at Widener Uni-
has recorded her song
Center in a wide range of
versity School of Nursing on March 17.
“Nurses’ Anthem.” She
nursing and health care areas for the past 17
Dr. Wilbur’s dissertation topic was “Fac-
wrote the “Nurse’s An-
years, Byrne has been the Director of Inpa-
tors that Influence the Cultural Compe-
them” song as part of
tient Services since 2002.
tence of Nurse Practitioner Students.”
her membership in the Nightingale Initiative
for Global Health (NIGH). NIGH’s members
work to empower nurses, health care workers and educators to become modern Nightingales in the local, national, and global
communities. Dee is an accomplished vocal-
Our Allied Health completion program started in fall 2006 and we had our first graduate in spring 2007. The program continues to grow – we now have almost 70 students
and had eight graduates in May 2008. Maria Weeks is the coordinator of this program.
ist who has performed in many settings and
Spring/summer 2008
31
d i v i s i o n o f E d uc at i o n
Achieving
Accreditation
Division of Education Receives
Professional Accreditation by the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
T
he Division of Edu-
cation has proven its
commitment to producing quality teachers and
educators for our region’s
children by achieving accreditation
under the performance-oriented standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE),
the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher
education.
NCATE was founded in 1954 and aims
to help establish high-quality teacher
preparation, thus encouraging competent
classroom teachers and improving the
education of P-12 students. Institutions
of higher learning that receive NCATE
accreditation must meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members
of the public. Teacher candidates must
have in-depth knowledge of the subject
matter that they plan to teach, as well as
the skills necessary to convey that knowledge to their students.
“5-2-1-Almost
None”:
One Formula for a
Healthy Lifestyle
Wilmington University has partnered with
the Nemours Health and Prevention Services
(NHPS) in their work to combat childhood obesity. NHPS has launched an effort in Delaware:
The Campaign to Make Delaware’s Kids the
Healthiest in the Nation.
NHPS, a non-profit organization based in
Michael Monti
Newark, Del., works with families and communities to help children grow up healthy. The
3 2 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
The institution must have partnerships
with P-12 schools that enable candidates
to develop the skills in the field and be
prepared to work with diverse student
populations. In addition, the faculty must
model effective teaching practices and the
institution must have the resources necessary to prepare candidates to meet the
new performance standards.
The accrediting team that visited
Wilmington University was comprised
of nine professional educators from California, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, South Carolina, Alabama and Delaware. Their visit
spanned a six-day period during which
University sites and P-12 schools were
visited, a myriad of documents were reviewed and hundreds of students, school
partners and faculty members were interviewed.
The visit was preceded by a review of
all educator preparation programs and
careful preparation of many required
documents and reports, which was accomplished by the faculty and staff
members of the division.
BECK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
For the fifth consecutive year, the Division of Education is pleased
to be in a position to select the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship in
memory of Karen Beck, a former director of special services in the
Red Clay Consolidated School District who passed away in 2002 at an
early age from cancer.
Beck was well known throughout Delaware as an outstanding leader in the field of special education, as well as a tireless advocate for special needs
children. Beck worked in various positions including being a special education teacher,
instructional facilitator and supervisor of special services before becoming director of
special services.
The award, graciously sponsored by the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Sorority, is
available to any Wilmington University graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in
Special Education. Selection criteria for the award include:
• Outstanding scholarship in the Master of Education in Elementary Special Program
• Active participation in activities involving individuals with special needs
• Demonstrated qualities of future promise in the field of special education
All applicants are asked to explain what influenced them the most in selecting
special education as a chosen career and to include activities that demonstrate their
current involvement with individuals who have special needs. Two letters of recommendation are required. The award is presented at the Karen Beck Memorial Walk held at
Brandywine Springs School in early May.
organization’s goal is to develop programs and
Wilmington University’s division of Education
discuss corrective strategies. In the MEC School
contribute knowledge to enhance efforts to
has incorporated the “5-2-1-Almost None”
Counseling program, student interns are also
promote the health of children in Delaware,
information into several of its programs. Stu-
encouraged to develop counseling interven-
and eventually the nation.
dents study the ongoing impact of obesity in
tion projects that focus upon childhood obesity
The emphasis on childhood obesity preven-
various developmental areas for children and
prevention during their school placements.
tion is centered in the “5-2-1-Almost None”
campaign:
n Eat five fruits and vegetables per day.
n Spend no more than two hours
n Get at least one hour of physical
n Consume almost no sugary drinks
activity per day.
like soda and sports drinks
(one to two servings per week).
Susan L. Gregg
per day in front of a screen
(television, video games, recreational
computer time).
The Education Division's Staff and Faculty.
Spring/summer 2008
33
D o c to r a l D i v i s i o n
DeaRDORFF
TO RETIRE
T
he dean of the Doctoral
Studies program, Dr. Joseph
Deardorff, has announced his retirement effective July 2008. Dr.
Deardorff plans to spend time
traveling, including three months in warmer
weather.
Dr. Deardorff came to Wilmington University
to help create both master’s and bachelor’s programs in Career and Technical Education. Shortly
after the programs were approved and initiated,
he was appointed as the dean of Doctoral Studies.
During the four and a half years that he served
as the dean of the program, a concentration in Organizational Leadership was
added to the existing Educational Leadership concentration in the Ed.D. program. The Educational Leadership program, meanwhile, has been significantly
modified to include rigorous standardsbased coursework that addresses the requirements for NCATE accreditation,
which the Division of Education received
in 2007.
He formerly served as the superintendent of the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District, where
he previously had experience as its deputy superintendent and high school principal. He retired from the school district
after 35 years of service and joined the
faculty at Wilmington University in
July 2003.
TAN
LIKE NEVER BEFORE
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3 4 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Wilmington university hosts evening
with Lauren Groff By Suki Deen
T
he Wilmington University community was fortunate to host an evening with critically
acclaimed author Lauren Groff in March 2008 and afterwards sit down for an interview with
her. Groff’s debut novel, “The Monsters of Templeton,” is a captivating novel filled with mystery, romance and the fantastic.
Lauren Groff: A really long time, and a
lot of work! The reception has been absolute luck, and I am overjoyed by it. But
I did spend four years of my life writing
it, and it took a year and a half after that
to get it published. So it feels like a long
time, and I wrote pretty much every day.
WU: The town of Templeton is based on
your hometown of Cooperstown, N.Y.
You describe the book as a “love story for
Cooperstown.” Tell us more about your
hometown and how it compares and contrasts to the town of Templeton?
LG: Templeton is Cooperstown the way
I’ve always viewed it since I was a child
but it’s much more imaginative. I’ve
taken a lot of the history of Cooperstown
and translated it into this mythical town.
It was so great growing up in the small
town of Cooperstown because it has been
very prominent in American history, and
is just a basket of culture in the middle of
upstate New York.
The town of Templeton was introduced to
me while reading James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Pioneers.” Cooper wrote about
his hometown of Cooperstown, taking
the truths of the town but changing some
of its history, creating new characters
and naming it Templeton. I found it so
interesting that I decided to write about
Templeton, taking the
idea and playing around
with it, creating my own
characters along the way.
LG: You know, people come up to me all
the time and say, “I’ve always wanted to
write but I’ve never had the time.” And I
just don’t believe in that excuse. Mainly
because I believe that if you have 10 minutes a day, you will get something done.
It may take 10 years, but you will have a
finished novel.
WU: “The Monsters of Templeton” is written with great
attention to detail. How
do you set the scene?
LG: Well, usually I spend
about 15 minutes at my
desk every morning with
my eyes closed trying to
imagine the scene that is coming up. I try
to get into all the senses, all the smells, all
the sights and all the sounds. Thank you
for picking up on that; I appreciate it!
WU: You’re welcome! What’s the best
advice would you give to up-and-coming
writers?
Dan Moran
WU Magazine: First, congratulations on
your debut novel. A lot of well-known authors have written many novels before they
gained any real recognition. What went in
to writing “The Monsters of Templeton”?
WU: Finally, what can we expect from
you in the future?
LG: I have two books under contract.
One is coming out next January; it is
a book of short stories called “Delicate
Edible Birds.” And the second book is still
a work in process.
Lauren Groff’s novel, “The Monsters of Templeton,” is available wherever quality books are sold.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 3 5
By Suki Deen
Wilmington University
IS GOING GREEN
T
hese days, everybody has been
talking about going green. Have you stepped
to save the planet, but you do have to do some
into your local grocery store and found
research, take some time and make some ad-
yourself walking down the organic aisle? Have
justments. The Green Team at Wilmington
you noticed the influx of hybrid cars? Have
University has been making some adjustments
you heard politicians and celebrities talking
all over campus. The Green Team, which
about recycling, global warming and
began in November 2006, is
saving energy?
a volunteer group of faculty,
Well, if you haven’t noticed,
students and staff who are striving
you might just be living under a
to improve environmental quality,
rock. The new trend is saving this
decrease waste and conserve natural
rock – planet Earth.
resources and energy on campus, at
You don’t have to be a superhero
home and in the community.
Go Green now!
If you are interested in joining the Green Team
visit www.wilmu.edu/greenteam or email Mark Paris at [email protected].
3 6 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Look at How Wilmington University is Going Green
The Wilmington University Green Team has been striving to save the
planet – just look at all they have done in a little under two years:
Saving Energy
Dupli, the preferred printer of Wilmington University, fuels their operations
with 100 percent wind power, thus saving energy while being eco-friendly.
Wilmington University Canon copiers
are all Energy Star rated, which means
they use less energy, save money and help
protect the environment. The Facilities
Department has replaced lighting with
T8 fluorescent lighting, which use less
energy, and installed “wattstopper” light
switches, which use motion sensors that
time out after 15 minutes.
Adopt- A-Highway
The Green Team participated in its first
Adopt-A-Highway cleanup in New Castle County. Wilmington University has
adopted Frenchtown Road (Route 273
between Route 141 and Route 13) and
members of the team cleaned up 21 large
garbage bags of trash from the highway.
Thomas Hurd
The University recycles paper, plastic
bottles, ink and toner cartridges manufactured by Dell and more. Wilmington
University has also been striving to use
recycled paper as much as possible when
printing.
In October 2007, the Green Team
staffed a table at Faculty Development
Day to raise awareness of recycling programs on campus. The team raffled off
a refurbished computer to raise money
and successfully raised $600 for use with
future events.
Thomas Hurd
Recycling
On April 19, the Green Team participated
in the second Adopt-A-Highway cleanup
and, once again, it was a great success.
Staying Green
Wilmington University President Dr.
Jack P. Varsalona recognized the achievements of Green Team leader Mark Paris
and the entire team by saying, “I would
like to congratulate you and the entire
team for making the University’s recycling program such a huge success. As
an institution of higher learning, it is our
responsibility to raise awareness and increase knowledge of just how important
it is to create a sustainable future. I look
forward to watching the program grow."
In March 2008, the Green Team raised
awareness at Faculty Development Day
by demonstrating a “kill-a-watt” meter on a standard printer, demonstrating
how leaving one standard personal printer
on and occasionally printing something
could cost up to $85 a year in electrical
energy. The team raised more than $300
and raffled off some great green prizes.
Thomas Hurd, assistant manager of
the Wilson Graduate Center, has been a
longtime member of the Green Team. “It
has become the most rewarding organization I’m associated with at Wilmington
University,” said Hurd. “It’s so exciting
to be a part of something that is having
a real, immediate and lasting impact on
the environment that we live and work
in each day.” n
Why Do We Need to Go Green?
The Earth naturally heats and cools over time, but human activity can cause an increase in global warming. Human activity increases the emission of greenhouse gases.
These gases have been documented as having a devastating effect on the temperature
of the planet, which in turn causes sea levels to rise, increases extreme weather events,
melts glaciers, kills coral reefs, increases disease and causes species extinction.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 3 7
1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
WUalumni
m e e t th e te am
Alumni R ela tion s
Depar tm en t
Jacque Varsalona
• Patricia L. Jennings Alumni Relations Coordinator
From left, Alumni Relations Coordinator Pattie Jennings,
University Events Coordinator Jane West (B.S. ’08), Annual
Fund Coordinator Gloria Johnson (B.S. ’94) and Alumni
Relations Associate Brandi Purcell.
I
n January 2008, Dr. Jack P. Varsalona established
the new Alumni Relations Department under the
leadership of Dr. Thomas B. Cupples, Assistant Vice
President in the Office of the President. Pattie Jennings
has been coordinator of alumni activities for a number of
years and brings a wealth of experience to the department.
Brandi Purcell adds her administrative expertise to the
group while updating the alumni database and using software to keep in touch with Wilmington University alumni. Gloria Johnson will coordinate the Annual Fund and
alumni,
3 8 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
• Gloria R. Johnson
Annual Fund Coordinator
• Brandi D. Purcell
Alumni Relations Associate
• Jane V. West
University Events Coordinator
other educational activities, and Jane West, who coordinates major events for the University, is now involved with
planning and implementing alumni events and activities.
One of the first tasks of the new department was to
write a mission statement and come up with solid strategic plans. There are six major alumni events planned this
year, the first of which was the successful Alumni Celebration of Education on May 1. The Wilmington University
Specialty License Tag Campaign, organized by the department, combines the opportunity to display a specialty
license tag with a donation to the Annual Fund. In the
future the alumni can expect to hear a lot more from this
group as they make contact with graduates. One of the
immediate goals is to establish individual activities for
graduates in various majors.
send us your
career, marriage
and baby news!
Please send all alumni correspondence to:
Patricia L. Jennings, Alumni Relations Coordinator
320 N. DuPont Hwy. / New Castle, DE 19720
Tel: 302.295.1163 / email: [email protected]
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72
Elbert Kennard (B.B.A. Business Management) of Winterville, N.C., is a medical
photographer at East Carolina University.
Elbert, or “Big E” as
he was known on the
Wilmington University basketball team,
participated in the Senior Olympics and his
team ended up 13th in
the nation. He also has
his own professional photography company. Contact him at www.coastalphotography.com
74
Joseph Gentile (B.A. Business Management) of Jackson, Miss., is a case manager
for the state of Mississippi. Although he
has not been back to his home state of Delaware for more than 20 years, he keeps in
touch with the University with cards and
letters.
Douglas A. Hotmer (B.S. Criminal Justice) of West Chester, Pa., is vice president and chief financial officer for About
Consulting LLC and has been named a
Princeton Premiers Honored Member in
Business. Douglas serves his community
as the director of the Delaware Children’s
Theater and plays drums and creates sound
effects for the performances.
86
Charles J. Simpson (B.S. Criminal Justice) of Lewes, Del., is a captain with the
Delaware State Police, Troop 4, in Georgetown, Del.
90
Yvette Santiago (B.S. Criminal Justice)
of Middletown, Del., is the senior manager for community relations at Nemours
Health and Prevention Services. In October
2007, Yvette took the oath of office for her
seat on the New Castle County Vocational
Technical School District Board of Education. She was appointed to the seven-year
term by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.
91
Major Robert J. Reiss Jr. (B.S. Aviation
Management) resides in Papillion, Neb.
Major Reiss currently is the chief of the
Special
Operations
Branch for HQ US
Strategic Command
and has led the command in all aspects of
the war on terror for
the U.S. Air Force.
His previous assignments include a deployment to the Middle East and South Korea. Major Reiss, a
career space and missile officer, has had a
very unique career. He has been published
in three military magazines and awarded
numerous medals and commendations. He
received his Master’s in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colo., and numerous certificates from
Pennsylvania State University and the
Emergency Management Institute at the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
92
Dr. Jeffry Sanders (M.S. Human Resources
Management) of Pittsburgh, Pa., is a business enterprise analyst for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Michelle A. Taylor (M.B.A. Business Administration) of Middletown, Del., has been
appointed president of United Way of Delaware. Michelle serves on the board of the
Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies.
93
Lisa Marie Butterworth (M.B.A. Business
Administration) of Dover, Del., is a senior
manager in the customer service department for Playtex Products, Inc.
96
Stephanie Brown-Richardson (M.Ed.
Educational Counseling) of Philadelphia,
Pa., is in her eighth year as a school counselor in the Philadelphia School District.
“I am very grateful that I could work and
go to school at the same time,” said Stephanie. “Thanks, Wilmington University.”
98
Lt. Lewis W. Briggs II (B.S. Criminal
Justice) of Georgetown, Del., retired in
2007 after serving 37 years in law enforcement. Lt. Briggs began his career as a U.S.
Air Force security police officer assigned
to strategic air command in Southeast
Asia. Prior to retirement, he was Director
of 911 operations and headquarters communications for the Delaware State Police
Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Lt. Briggs and wife, Lisa, are enjoying
retirement, spending time with their four
children and eight grandchildren.
Steve Grandizio (M.S. Public Administration) of Philadelphia, Pa., is president of
Friendly Mortgage and was honored as the
recipient of the “Young Entrepreneur of
the Year Excellence Award” by the Greater
Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce in
November 2007. Steve is co-founder and
co-chair for Little Smiles of Pennsylvania,
a charitable organization for children in local hospitals, hospices and shelters; chair of
Covenant House, a national organization
providing shelter and assistance to runaway
youth; and executive committee member
of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s
Light the Night 2007. Steve received his
B.A. in Communications from Wilmington University in 1993. In between degrees, he played professional baseball in
the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Lt. Col. Kurt Guyer (M.S. Management)
of Crofton, Md., recently served as an operations officer supporting command level
nuclear surety exer
cises at the Head
quarters Defense
Threat Reduction
Agency at Ft. Belvoir,
Va. Lt. Guyer is cur
rently assigned as an
admissions liaison officer to the Air Force Academy and the reserve officer training program. He holds a
senior space/missile operations designation
and has been activated for Operation Joint
Endeavor and Operation Enduring Freedom. When not on assignment, he works
Spring/summer 2008
39
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for the headquarters of the Department of
Homeland Security. Spending time with
his son Kraig is the highlight of his life.
Dr. Christine Oldham (Ed.D. Innovation
& Leadership), a native of the Johnstown,
Pa., area, has been selected as the superintendent of the Ligonier Valley School
District in Pennsylvania. Her tenure will
begin in July 2008. She is currently superintendent of the Ferndale School District.
Dr. Oldham’s first position in education
was as an elementary teacher in 1988 in
Camden, Del. Since then, she has served
as an assistant principal, elementary school
principal, curriculum director and instructional coordinator.
99
Cyndi Clay (M.Ed. Instruction: Teaching and
Learning) of Middletown, Del., has been
named the new assistant principal at Silver
Lake Elementary School. Cyndi, a nationally board-certified teacher, has 27 years of
teaching experience and has taught every
grade except kindergarten. She started
her teaching career at the old Middletown
high school on Broad Street. Cyndi and
her husband, Dennis, have three children,
Chris, Kim and Mike.
01
Ramona Bradley (B.S.N. Nursing) of Laurel, Del., is a residential health director for
the Deaf Independent Living Association.
Carol H. Chiffens (M.B.A. Business Administration) of Pasadena, Md., is a program specialist in business operations
for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “I
utilize my education in business from the
University in budgetary functions every
day,” she said.
Christine Jeffery (B.S. Early Childhood
Education) of New Castle, Del., is employed
by the Chase Academy of Learning. She is
a director and preschool teacher. Christine
and her husband have five sons.
John Singer (M.Ed. Applied Technology) of
New Castle, Del, was recently recognized
at the annual conference of the International
Technology
Education Association
held in Salt Lake City,
Utah. John is one of
39 teachers worldwide
to earn the prestigious
Teacher in Excellence
Award for 2008. He was also recognized
as one of three teachers to receive the Distinguished Technology Educator Citation.
John is a technology education teacher at
Hanby Middle School and an instructor at
the Delaware Aerospace Academy.
02
Goodwin K. Cobb (M.B.A. Business Administration) of Newark, Del., is with the
marketing group of the Christiana Care
Health System. He presented “Implementing a Health and Wellness Plan in
Occupational Health Practices” at the National Association of Occupational Health
Professionals in Nashville, Tenn.
Kathleen S. Peake (B.S. Business Management) of Wilmington, Del., is a management analyst for the Delaware Department
of Labor.
Lawrence Tan (B.S. Human Resources
Management) of Newark, Del., is the chief
of emergency medical services for New
Castle County Government. Lawrence
recently graduated from Widener University School of Law with a Juris Doctor
degree and has been admitted to practice
law by the supreme courts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In October 2007, he
was awarded a senior executive fellowship to the Harvard University John F.
Kennedy School of Government by the
National EMS Chiefs Division of the National Association of Emergency Medical
Technicians.
Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Relations Department is pleased to rec-
challenges in law enforcement, whether it was report
ognize the first scholarship recipient awarded 10 years
writing, computer literacy or public speaking in court.
ago. Robert A. Willoughby Jr. of Middletown,
Robert said, “Being awarded the alumni scholarship
Del., earned his B.S. in Business Management in 1998
meant a great deal to me at that time and it was a mo-
from Wilmington University. He has been employed by
tivator to complete my degree. Wilmington University
Delaware for 15 years and is currently a senior probation
and the people I met along the way, both faculty and
and parole officer for the probation and parole depart-
students, helped shape me into who I am today. I am
ment. During his nine-year tenure in this position, he has
appreciative of the alumni donors’ generosity and sup-
earned seven departmental commendations and the New
port in funding the scholarship program throughout the
Castle County Police Chiefs Award in 2007. Although Rob-
years and I look forward, as an alumnus, to take part as
ert’s major was Business, it prepared him for the many
an active member.”
4 0 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
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03
Cassandra Hopkins (B.S. Human Resources Management) of Claymont, Del., is a
program facilitator and instructor for the
Professional Staffing Employee Training
and Development Company. Cassandra
said, “I have found my dream position! Without Wilmington University,
I am sure it would not have happened.
I completed a course at the University
entitled “Adventures in Attitudes,” and
remember thinking that this class held
for me life-changing ideas and information. Every time I stand before my
classes, I do so thinking of the wonderful
instructors and directors I encountered
during my education at Wilmington
University.”
Laura M. O’Sullivan (M.S. Administration
of Justice) of Newark, Del., was promoted
to lieutenant on Jan. 23, 2008 and is patrol squad commander for E Squad for the
New Castle County Police Department.
04
Wilmington University AlumnA Named
Director of DMV
On Dec. 3, 2007 Delaware
Department
of
Transpor-
tation Secretary Carolann
Wicks named Jennifer L.
Cohan (B.S. in Business
Management 2002 and M.S.
in
Public
Administration
2003) as the first female
director of the Division of
Jacque Varsalona
Robert Yeatman (M.B.A. Master of Business Administration) of Kinnelon, N.J., has
been appointed to general manager of sales
management and volume planning for
Mercedes-Benz USA.
Motor Vehicles. Jennifer, an
18-year state employee, has
held various positions within
the executive and legislative
branches
of
government.
She attributes her success to her positive learn-
Jennifer L. Cohan, director of the Delaware Division
of Motor Vehicles (left) presents the new Wilmington
University license tag to Pattie Jennings, alumni
relations coordinator. For license tag information, go to
www.wilmu.edu/alumni or call 302-356-4636.
ing experience at Wilmington University, its professors and fellow alumni. “Wilmington
University made it easy for me to continue working a full-time career and still meet
my educational goals. It also allowed me to learn from other professionals with various
backgrounds – you do not get that level of diverse exposure with just any university. It is
that experience that I rely on every day and fuels my dedication to public service,” she
said. Jennifer lives in Dover with her husband, Chris, and daughter Brittany. Her hobbies
include running, reading and spending time with her family.
WU Softball Team – Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, Fla.
Pablo Reyes Jr., (M.Ed. Elementary Education) of Felton, Del., is a computer technology teacher in the Lake Forest School
District. Pablo also earned his B.S. in Business Management in 1997 and his M.B.A.
in Business Administration in 2000 from
Wilmington University.
Erin Harvey
Dorothy R. Burke (M.Ed. Educational
Leadership) of Pittsgrove, N.J., was promoted from English teacher to assistant
principal at Vineland High School South
in Vineland, N.J. “The educational training that I received from Wilmington University, including the rigorous compilation of the capstone project, prepared me
for my journey into administration,” said
Dorothy.
The Wilmington University women’s softball team paused for a moment for a photo
during their spring training session. Donations from alumni and friends to the
Annual Fund helped defray some of their expenses for the trip.
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 4 1
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Alumni celebration of education
Jacque Varsalona
The Alumni Relations Department, in coordination with the Division of
Education and the Division of Doctoral Studies, held the first Alumni Celebration of Education as part of a new series of alumni events planned by the
department.
The event was held to celebrate the Education alumni and Wilmington
University's profound impact on K-12 schools throughout the region. Many
alumni participated in poster presentations, showing interesting events in
their school districts or
presenting their recent
doctoral dissertations.
Dr. Thomas Cupples,
assistant vice president of
Wilmington University,
welcomed alumni, special
guests and educators, saying he was pleased that so
From left, Pat McCarthy, Sid Collison,
many alumni had returned
Dr. Barbara Raetsch, Dr. Richard Gochnauer
to Wilmington University
and Dr. Joseph Deardorff.
for this special event.
The Dean of the Division of Education, Dr. Richard Gochnauer, discussed
the progress Wilmington University and the division have made in the past
20 years. Dr. Joseph Deardoff, dean of the Division of Doctoral Studies,
welcomed distinguished alumni, including 2007 Delaware, Superintendent
of the Year Dr. Tony Marchio and 2007 Delaware Principal of the Year
Dr. Bruce Curry, both of whom are graduates of Wilmington University’s
doctoral program.
Other notable guests included Dr. Chuck Staropoli, former vice president;
Dr. Jim Spartz, former vice president; Pat McCarthy, former program coordinator; Sid Collison, Founding Chair of the Education Program, Dr. Barbara
Raetsch, former dean of Education; and Dr. Fred Raetsch, former coordinator
of the Master of Reading and Literacy programs.
Wilmington University President Dr. Jack P. Varsalona thanked the
alumni for attending the event and congratulated them on their achievements.
“When we began offering degrees in this division, we wanted to make it
practical, convenient and hands-on,” said Dr. Varsalona, adding that this
hands-on experience has been helpful to the Education alumni. “From our
humble beginnings we now have over 7000 education alumni and I am very
proud of each and every one.”
4 2 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine
Lyncoya Simpson (M.B.A. Business Administration) of Indian Trail, N.C., and his
wife, Maria, also a graduate of Wilmington University (B.S. Business Administration in 1999) have started their own business. Their technology consulting firm,
The Brownstone Group, LLC specializes
in industries of financial services, defense,
transportation and education.
06
Jeanine Brown (B.S. Accounting) of West
Chester, Pa., is a revenue agent for the Internal Revenue Service. Jeanine credits her
success to her Wilmington University degree. In addition, Jeanine said, “I attended
the career fair held by the Career Counseling Office at WU and it was the vehicle
that led to my wonderful job.”
Nan Howe (M.Ed. Leadership) resides in
West Ocean City, Md., with her husband,
Bruce, two children and three chocolate
labs. Nan was named Teacher of the Year
in the Ocean City Elementary School. She
has taught first, second and third grade
in Worcester County since 1983 at Snow
Hill Elementary School and Ocean City
Elementary School.
Stephanie McCready (B.S. General Studies) of Milwaukee, Wis., is the owner of
Muscari Flowers & Gifts. Stephanie opened
her shop in April 2007. “My diverse training in the general studies program at
Wilmington University prepared me for
this business enterprise,” said Stephanie.
Dr. Brenda Windemuth (M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner) of Eden, Md., is a
faculty member and nurse practitioner
for the University of Maryland School of
Nursing. “Wilmington University gave
me the building blocks to succeed in my
current career,” said Dr. Windemuth.
She also received her B.S.N. in Nursing
in 1998 from Wilmington University
and received her Doctorate of Nurse Practice from the University of Maryland
School of Nursing.
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07
Olusegun Agbaje (M.Ed. School Counseling) of Middletown, Del., is a social worker adoption specialist for the Department
of Family Protective Services.
Quinton Buckley (B.S. Elementary Education) of Ellendale, Del., is currently teaching math and science in a small school in
Honduras.
Jennifer Wynne Goldman (M.Ed. Special
Education) of Grand Cayman, Ky., is working as a coordinator for the Ambassadors
of the Environment children’s program for
the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Mary Elizabeth Libro (M.Ed. Elementary and Secondary Counseling) of Marmora,
N.J., is a first-grade teacher in the Ocean
City School District.
Faith T. Messick (B.S. Legal Studies) of
Seaford, Del., is a paralegal at the Law Office of Dean A. Campbell, LLC. She is a
member of Lambda Epsilon Chi, the Na-
tional Paralegal Association. Faith, who is
eager to begin a career in law, has applied
to Widener School of Law. She has two
grown children and two beautiful granddaughters.
Dr. Melvin Roberts (Ed.D. Innovation and Leadership) of Wenonah, N.J.,
has been named dean of Camden County
College’s Division of Business. Dr. Roberts, a registered professional engineer,
received a master’s degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the Georgia Institute
of Technology.
08
David Dunnington (M.S. Public Administration) of Dover, Del., is working
as a student enrichment coordinator with
Upward Bound. David works with high
school students to provide fundamental
support in their preparation for college
entrance. He also earned a B.S. degree in
Criminal Justice in 2006 from Wilmington University that gave him the expertise for his position as an adjunct Criminal
Beverly Ross Becomes Trustee of
New Castle Common
Beverly Ross, (B.S. Human
Resources Management 1993 and
M.S. Public Administration 1996),
alumna and adjunct faculty member of Wilmington University, was
sworn in as the 13th trustee of
New Castle Common on Jan. 9,
2008. The Trustees of New Castle
Common is a unique organization
Justice instructor at Delaware Technical
and Community College.
Patricia Ann Walker Griffin (M.S. Public
Administration) of Bear, Del., is a member
of the office staff for the Colonial School
District. Patricia, a
licensed minister and
church administrator,
is also on the board
of directors for her
community center.
She received a B.S in
Human Resources Management in 1993,
and an M.S. in Management in 2008 from
Wilmington University. Patricia and
husband, Tilghman, have two daughters
and one son.
Sean MacKinnon (B.S. Primary Education) of Odenton, Md., is director of the
automotive training development department for the Tire Industry Association
(TIA). Sean is in charge of education programs that TIA uses to train and educate
tire retailers around the world. n
Engagements
Kyle Muller (2007 B.S. Criminal
Justice) to Krystal Lynn Perrone
Mark Phelps (2006 M.Ed.
Elementary Education) to
Adrienne Monaco
Laura Renee Raffaelli (2008 M.Ed.
Elementary Education) to Barry
David Archambault
Samantha Wiley (2003 B.S.
Behavioral Science) to Joshua
Parker
within Delaware and has a history
as old as New Castle. The common
land has existed as such since the
days of early Dutch colonization.
In 1701, William Penn surveyed and formally recognized the lands that were already being
used as a common. A body of 13 trustees was appointed to life terms to act as stewards
of the land. Trustees are now elected officials and their terms have been shortened to 12
years. Beverly is the third female trustee in more than 300 years.
Marriages
Angie Galloway (2001 M.B.A.
Business Administration) to
Gregory Warrell on Sept. 9, 2007
Richard Groff (2003 B.S. General
Studies) to Kelly Marie Garber on
Sept. 22, 2007
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 0 8 4 3
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From wildcat to taming criminals
By Suki Deen
I
A native of the small town of Pennsville, N.J., Efelis was a gymnast, athlete, and mascot for his high school
sport’s team. Growing up, Efelis was
one of five children, including a paternal twin brother to whom he always
has a special bond. As a child, Efelis
Susan L. Gregg
t’s not easy being a Wildcat –
just ask the friendly feline and
Wilmington University mascot, the Wildcat. This Wildcat
is not just an entertainer; he is an ambassador of Wilmington University,
exuding school pride, charisma and
energy. The Wildcat is full of
spirit, an avid athlete and has a
great personality, all while being
a diligent student. In fact, the
Wildcat is very much like many
other Wilmington University
students; he is reaching for the
stars.
Jason Efelis knows all about
the trials and tribulations of being a Wildcat. He was the Wilmington University mascot while
pursuing his bachelor’s degree. “I
remember jumping off this mini
trampoline and trying to dunk a
basketball,” recalls Efelis with a
laugh. “Well I ended up missing
the basket, but that wasn’t the
worst of it. I grabbed a hold of the rim,
my feet swung up, and I ended up falling to the ground and hitting my head.
I was knocked unconscious and when I
came to a few seconds later, I stumbled
off the court.”
Although a lot of people in the
audience found it amusing, Efelis
had sprained his neck and had a mild
concussion, one of the few times that
Efelis proved being a Wildcat was no
easy job.
4 4 W i l m i n g t o n
suffered from asthma, and his struggle
with this chronic condition helped
him decide on a career path: he wanted
to be a doctor and help people battling
health conditions. In high school, he
changed his mind and decided upon
law enforcement. “I guess that is why
I decided on this line of work,” says
Efelis. “I like to help people.”
Efelis decided to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice after
his mother declared that she was go-
University magazine
ing back to school to earn her bachelor’s degree. “When I saw she had decided to go back after all these years, I
decided I had to get my degree, too,”
says Efelis. After both were accepted
to Wilmington University, Efelis and
his mother inspired each other to persevere and work hard towards
their educational goals.
While completing his Master
of Administration of Justice degree at Wilmington, he was accepted to the Gloucester County
Police Academy, where he excelled in his police training to
become president of his class.
“Getting an education at
Wilmington University was
so helpful to me when pursuing police academy training at
Gloucester,” says Efelis. “Everything I learned at Wilmington
University was applicable to the
training I was receiving.”
Today, Efelis is pursuing
another tough job; he is a patrolman
in the Pennsville Police Department.
Interested in teaching criminal justice, and possibly coaching gymnastics, Efelis is excited to see what the
future holds.
“I really enjoy working in law
enforcement. Every day is new and
interesting,” says Efelis. And while
taming criminals might be his new
line of work, he will always be a
Wildcat at heart. n
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
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College Relations Department
Wilson Graduate Center
31 Read’s Way
New Castle, DE 19720
4 6 W i l m i n g t o n
University magazine